Yieldable pads of cushion material



Sept. 18, 1956 C. J. VAN VALKENBURGH YIELDABLE PADS OF CUSHION MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1952 United States Patent 2,763,013 YIELDABLE PADS OF CUSHION MATERIAL Cecil J. Van Valkenburgh, Belleville, Mich. Application January 31, 1952, Serial No. 269,208

2 Claims. (Cl. 5-91) My invention relates to improvements in yieldable pads of cushion material, and particularly to pads for use on chairs, as baby mattresses, as mattresses for use in hospitals or in invalid beds, and in other places where there is likelihood or possibility of liquid being deposited on the surface.

An object of this invention is to provide a yieldable pad which can be made of molded sponge rubber or latex or other plastics, either natural or synthetic, or of other cushioning and yieldable material having properties and characteristics substantially the same as sponge rubber, which pads can be made for use in wheel chairs, baby chairs, baby or child mattresses, hospital mattresses and in other articles or pads used by babies or children or other people who have little or no control.

Another object is to provide a yieldable pad of cushion material having substantially the same characteristics as sponge rubber, comprising a body of desired shape having a plurality of recesses therein of substantially pear or bulbous shape in supporting areas thereof, with the larger portion within the body of material and the smaller portion terminating in an opening through the upper side of the pad.

Another purpose is to provide a yieldable body of cushion material having an appreciable thickness for cushioning effect and having a plurality of substantially pear-shaped or bulb-like recesses or openings or holes therein with the larger portion within the body of the material and the smaller portion terminating in an opening through the upper side of the pad so that any liquid deposited or occurring on the top of the pad will be received or drawn into and accommodated within the recesses or holes, to be retained therein until purposely removed.

Yet another object is to provide a pad or body of cushion material having the opening therein as set forth, and with the upper surface having a tufted shape on the upper side with the openings of the recesses or holes located substantially at the corners of the tufted shape.

Still another purpose is to provide a pad or body of cushion material as above set forth with an upstanding surrounding marginal portion.

A further object is to provide a pad or body of cushion material having a plurality of substantially pear-shaped recesses therein with the larger portion within the body of the material and the smaller portion terminating in an opening through the upper side of the pad, and with the body having a plurality of substantially cylindrical holes or recesses opening on the lower side and out of alignment with the pear-shaped recesses opening through the upper side.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in perspective showing a yieldable 2,763,013 Patented Sept. 18, 1956 'ice pad of cushion material constructed as a chair pad or cushion, and embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a mattress illustrating one embodiment of my invention therein.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing another modified construction.

As has been stated, my invention is adaptable for use in chair pads or cushions, in mattresses, and in other cushion or pad structures, and the construction will be somewhat similar in all adaptations.

In Figure l of the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a pad or cushion intended and adapted for use in wheel chairs, high chairs, invalids chairs, and the like; but, it will be appreciated that this cushion or pad can be used in any desired connection. The body 1 is made in any desired outline or shape, of sponge rubber or latex or other plastics, either natural or synthetic, or other cushioning and yieldable material having substantially the same characteristics as sponge rubber. As here shown, the body 1 is substantially rectangular in its outline, and is made of an appreciable thickness. This yieldable body of cushion material has a plurality of substantially pear-shaped or bulb-like or bulbous recesses or holes 2 therein with the larger portion within the body of the material and the smaller portion terminating in an opening 3 through the upper side 4 of the pad. In this instance, the bottom side 5 of the pad is made substantially flat or smooth, and the side edge 6 rises substantially perpendicularly around the pad, a bead-like upstanding surrounding marginal portion 7 being provided around this upper surface or side 4 of the pad or body.

As here illustrated, the upper side 4 has a plurality of grooves or channels 8 formed in crossed relation substantially after the manner of tufting, and the pear-like openings or recesses or holes 2 are so located that the open ends 3 are substantially within or at the points of crossing of the groove formations 8.

With sponge rubber or other material having substantially the same characteristics as sponge rubber, when the body or pad is molded or otherwise formed, a surface skin or substantially continuous layer of rubber or other impervious material will result on all surfaces, and this will mean that the upper surface or face 4 and the walls ofthe recesses or holes 2 will be substantiallycontinuous and will be impervious to the passage of liquid that might otherwise seep or be drawn into the air cells or spaces of the sponge rubber or like material.

It will be appreciated that this pad or body will be readily yieldable, and provision of the recesses or holes 2 will add to the yieldability and at the same time will save on the quantity and cost of material required in making my improved pad air cushion body. It will of course be understood that the pear-shaped openings 2 can be spaced a greater or lesser degree or distance apart, and that these can be located at any points and in any area of the body 1, as may be desired.

Where the pad is in use, and liquid is deposited thereon, this liquid will be directed or drawn into the recesses or holes 2, and will be retained therein until the pad or cushion body is turned over and manipulated to accomplish removal. Thus, with the upstanding surrounding marginal portion 7, and the provision of the channels at 8, there is little likelihood that any liquid will spill or flow over the edges of the pad, and with a sufficient number of recesses or pear-shaped openings 2, a desired quantity of liquid can be accommodated.

When it is desired to clean the pad or cushion body, this can be readily accomplished by flushing with water or other cleaning solution, and all liquid can be expelled from the pear-shaped recesses or holes by reversing-the pad and exerting pressure upon the lower side 5, which is then disposed upwardly. As pressure is exerted upon the surface 5 over any of the pear-shaped recesses or holes 2, these will be compressed somewhat after the manner of an ordinary syringe bulb, and liquid will be expelled through the openings 3.

With the construction as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the body 8 is made in a shape and size suitable for use as a mattress or other like yieldable cushion pad, and as here shown, the substantially pear-shaped or bulb-like recesses or holes 9 are provided in a central area of the mattress or pad. A greater or lesser number of openings can be provided, as may be desired or necessary, and these can be arranged in any pattern that may be found advantageous. In this instance, the upper side or surface 10 is substantially flat and is substantially parallel with the lower flat face or side 11, and an upstanding rim bead or edging 12 can be provided, if desired.

In the adaptation illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the substantially pear-like openings 9 are confined to a more or less limited area, and to give greater resiliency and to save material in the remaining portions of the body 8, a plurality of substantially cylindrical holes or recesses are formed in the lower side of the body 8, with their openings through the lower face 11, this arrangement being perhaps best illustrated in Fig. 4. These substantially cylindrical holes or recesses 13 can be made of any desired size and of any depth so that their inner ends 14 are below the upper side or surface 10, and the holes or recesses 13 can be arranged in any desired spacing and pattern.

With the modified embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, the substantially pear-shaped openings are arranged in a mattress or other body 15, in substantially circular concentric pattern, and it will be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of these pear-shaped passages or recesses or holes 16 can be provided. Remaining portions of the body can be of continuous sponge rubber or can be provided with any number and patterning of holes or recesses of substantially cylindrical or other shape opening through the lower side of the body 15, substantially after the manner of the cylindrical holes or recesses 13.

With the embodiment as disclosed in Fig. 6, the yieldable cushion body or pad portion 17 can be made as a chair pad, mattress, or other desired structure, and the upper and lower sides are shown as being substantially fiat and parallel. The pear-shaped openings 20 can be positioned and arranged in any desired spacing and pattern, and to give greater yieldability, and to save upon material, a plurality of substantially cylindrical holes or openings 21 can be provided to extend upwardly into the material of the body 17 and open through the lower side 19. In the present instance these recesses or holes 21 are shown in staggered relation between the pear-shaped recessesor'holes 20, and in this arrangement great yieldability will be accomplished and material will be saved.

The several illustrations are intended as showing only possible embodiments, and the placement of the pearshaped openings and the spacing and size will be governed very much by the particular use or embodiment of the invention. Obviously, a greater or lesser number of the pear-shaped openings and the substantially cylindrical holes or recesses can be employed.

. While Ihave herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, arrangement and disposition of the various parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A yieldable pad of cushion material having a plurality of spaced-apart substantially bulb-like openings in its middle area with the larger portion of each opening in the body of the material and the smaller portion terminating in a passage through the upper side of the pad, and said pad having a plurality of spaced-apart recesses on its lower side spaced outwardly from the area having the bulb-like openings.

2. A yieldable pad of cushion material having a plurality of spaced-apart substantially bulb-like openings in its middle area with the larger portion of each opening in the body of the material and the smaller portion terminating in a passage through the upper side of the pad, and said pad having a plurality of spaced-apart recesses on its lower side spaced outwardly from the area having the bulb-like openings, said pad also having an upstanding surrounding marginal portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Feb. 3, 1936 

